Hotel Owner April 2019 | Page 7

MONTH IN REVIEW GO ONLINE www.hotelowner.co.uk HOTEL OPENINGS Mandarin Oriental to reopen 10 months after fire Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park will reopen in its entirety on Monday 15 April, having completed the most extensive restoration in its 117-year history just 10 months after a fire ravaged the hotel. Following the re-opening of the public spaces in December, the hotel has now unveiled all new guest rooms and suites, including two newly created penthouse suites. Internationally renowned designer, Joyce Wang, has overseen the redesign of all guest rooms and suites, along with the creation of the hotel’s new Penthouses. All 181-guest rooms and suites are designed to be more “luxurious and comfortable than ever before”, with art deco-inspired features including curated artworks and custom-designed furniture. Each of the hotel’s 40 suites range in size from the smallest, at 47 square metres, located within the turrets of the hotel, to the largest, at 444 square metres, which comprises the new three-bedroom Mandarin Oriental Penthouse with private terraces. Consisting of two penthouse suites, the Mandarin Penthouse and the Oriental Penthouse can be interconnected to create one of London’s largest suites with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a private dining room, two kitchens, and expansive views of Hyde Park and the London skyline. New York designer Adam D. Tihany, has overseen the redesign of the next- generation Spa featuring 13 individual treatments rooms, an Oriental Suite with two massage beds and a Rasul water temple. Tilhany also has overseen the “light” refurbishment of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Bar Boulud, London and Mandarin Bar. April 2019 HOTEL REFURBISHMENTS Merseyside hotel completes ‘major’ refurb Holiday Inn Express Liverpool/ Knowsley, in Merseyside, has reopened following a £700k refurbishment. The refurbishment has seen each of the 86 bedrooms revamped, allowing guests to have a more “modern and comfortable stay”. Signature lighting has also been installed along with bespoke bedding and new air conditioning units, whilst extra space has been created for families. The hotel has been part of the Crest Hotels portfolio for 16 years and Jason Hiley, group operations director, said: “We’re delighted with the outcome of what is a huge investment made by Crest Hotels. “All of the bedrooms have been updated as have other aspects of the hotel, in order to give a seamless customer journey of the utmost comfort. In an extremely competitive market, we felt it was vital to make this sort of investment and we are delighted with the result.” GM Lindsay Jones added: “The renovation has come at an ideal time, myself and the team are extremely proud to be a part of it.” “The property is now at the top of the tree in an extremely competitive market. We’re extremely happy with how the new bedrooms look and more so how the hotel is suitable for not only businessmen and women but also families as we have so many wonderful amenities and attractions on our doorstep.” 1 2 3 4 5 ACQUISITIONS 7 Hospitality adds first English hotel to portfolio The Scottish based hotel asset management company 7 Hospitality has added its first hotel in England with the Judges Court hotel in York. This is now the fifth UK contract for the business which is headed by managing director Richard Ellison. The luxury, four-storey Georgian grade-II listed building, is located near the heart of York’s shopping district. It features 15 individually designed bedrooms and bespoke furniture which adds “substance and a nostalgic quality”. The hotel was brokered by the asset management company and sold out of partnership to a Hong Kong based investment fund. 7 Hospitality Management will continue to manage the hotel under the new ownership. 7 Hospitality Management said it is “delighted” with the takeover of the boutique hotel and added that it is a “fantastic asset” to its fast growing portfolio. Ellison said: “This hotel is a key contract for us as our first entry into the English market. The hotel is a great trading asset and operated by a great team. This is our first in a strong pipeline of key UK destinations which we are close to closing in Q1 and Q2.” The renovation has come at an ideal time , myself and the team are extremely proud to be a part of it Lindsay Jones, GM, Crest Hotels www.hotelowner.co.uk 7